tirewheelguide
Head-to-head Updated

Kumho WinterCraft WP71 vs Pirelli Ice Zero 2 — Compared

Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews (comfort 40/60). Based on 6 + 6 road tests and 17 + 3 owner reviews. How we score

Ice Zero 2 is ahead, 67–60

Check price on Amazon · Ice Zero 2 or WinterCraft WP71 on Amazon
Add your size for an exact match
/R

Both Amazon links then search this exact size.

TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.

Kumho WinterCraft WP71
Tire AKumho

WinterCraft WP71

Winter

± 6

Tests 70 · 6 tests Owners 48 · 17 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 11 in 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test (snow handling)

Pirelli Ice Zero 2
Tire BPirelli

Ice Zero 2

Winter

± 6

Tests 78 · 6 tests Owners 57 · 3 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 16 in 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test (snow traction)

Category by category

Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.

  1. 53

    Dry

    Ice Zero 2 +19
    72
    Why this score
    SourceWinterCraft WP71Ice Zero 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / 4 tests6282
    Reviews found online3957

    WinterCraft WP71: 60% × 62.1 + 40% × 38.5 = 53

    Ice Zero 2: 60% × 81.8 + 40% × 56.9 = 72

  2. 64

    Wet

    Ice Zero 2 +9
    73
    Why this score
    SourceWinterCraft WP71Ice Zero 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 5 tests7681
    Reviews found online4861

    WinterCraft WP71: 60% × 75.6 + 40% × 47.7 = 64

    Ice Zero 2: 60% × 81 + 40% × 60.9 = 73

  3. 68

    Snow

    Ice Zero 2 +2
    70
    Why this score
    SourceWinterCraft WP71Ice Zero 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 4 tests7376
    Reviews found online6063

    WinterCraft WP71: 60% × 73 + 40% × 60.3 = 68

    Ice Zero 2: 60% × 75.6 + 40% × 62.6 = 70

  4. 46

    Comfort

    Ice Zero 2 +12
    58
    Why this score
    SourceWinterCraft WP71Ice Zero 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 2 tests≈ 63 (est.)72
    Reviews found online3450

    WinterCraft WP71: 40% × 62.9 (est.) + 60% × 34.3 = 46

    Ice Zero 2: 40% × 71.9 + 60% × 49.5 = 58

    No road tests of comfort for WinterCraft WP71. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.

  5. 73

    Noise

    WinterCraft WP71 +7
    66
    Why this score
    SourceWinterCraft WP71Ice Zero 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / 4 tests7865
    Reviews found online≈ 67 (est.)≈ 67 (est.)

    WinterCraft WP71: 60% × 77.8 + 40% × 66.5 (est.) = 73

    Ice Zero 2: 60% × 64.8 + 40% × 66.5 (est.) = 66

    No owner ratings of noise for WinterCraft WP71 or Ice Zero 2. The owner half is the owners’ average (67): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests, so the tests say nothing about how owners would rate it.

  6. 62

    Treadwear

    WinterCraft WP71 +6
    56
    Why this score
    SourceWinterCraft WP71Ice Zero 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / – tests69≈ 61 (est.)
    Reviews found online5349

    WinterCraft WP71: 60% × 68.8 + 40% × 52.9 = 62

    Ice Zero 2: 60% × 60.5 (est.) + 40% × 49.4 = 56

    No road tests of treadwear for Ice Zero 2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.35).

  7. 38

    Handling (owners)

    Ice Zero 2 +15
    53
    Why this score
    SourceWinterCraft WP71Ice Zero 2
    Reviews found online3853
  8. 52

    Efficiency

    Ice Zero 2 +18
    70
    Why this score
    SourceWinterCraft WP71Ice Zero 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / 3 tests5270
Scores at a glance
CategoryKumho WinterCraft WP71Pirelli Ice Zero 2
Relative Score 60 67
Dry 53 72
Wet 64 73
Snow 68 70
Comfort 46 58
Noise 73 66
Treadwear 62 56
Handling (owners) 38 53
Efficiency 52 70

Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.

Weight the categories that matter to you

Wet grip starts at “Important”. Treadwear starts at “Neutral” here: road tests measured it for at most one of the two tires, so it rests on owner reviews. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.

Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Not important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score
± 6

WinterCraft WP71

± 6

Ice Zero 2

The professional test results behind the scores

Per discipline: the average % of the best tire over every test both tires were in, and how many of those tests each one won. “Different tests” rows compare results from separate tests.

DisciplineCategoryWinterCraft WP71Ice Zero 2ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 97% #11/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test 97% #9/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 93% #8/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test 84% #14/18 · 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 93% #7/44 · 2019 Winter Tyre Test Market Overview 100% #8/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 97% #8/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test 100% #1/8 · 2026 Vi Bilagare Studded Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Braking Snow 97% #15/30 · 2019 Winter Tyre Test Market Overview 99% #9/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Handling Snow 97% #17/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test 97% #5/8 · 2026 Vi Bilagare Studded Tyre Test – Different tests
Noise Noise 98% #5/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test 98% #4/8 · 2026 Vi Bilagare Studded Tyre Test – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Price Cost 82% #5/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test 55% #10/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall #12/10 2020 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tire Test R18 #4/6 2027 NAF Motor Studded Winter Tire Test R17 – Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A WinterCraft WP71

Pros

  • Strong traction and braking performance in deep snow and slush
  • Competitive price point compared to premium winter tire alternatives
  • Predictable handling in dry winter conditions

Cons

  • Excessive road noise, particularly at low to moderate speeds
  • Vague or 'spongy' steering feedback and handling characteristics
  • Inconsistent lateral grip and understeer issues on wet roads
All owner themes in the WinterCraft WP71 review

Tire B Ice Zero 2

Pros

  • Very good traction and performance on snow
  • Reasonably quiet for a studded winter tire
  • Adequate performance on wet and salty roads

Cons

  • Dangerous slipping on ice at low speeds in cold climates
  • Strong, intrusive howling noise at speeds above 95 km/h
  • Poor overall handling compared to competing studded winter tires like the Nokian Hakkapeliitta
All owner themes in the Ice Zero 2 review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Kumho WinterCraft WP71 B · Pirelli Ice Zero 2
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover

Which one should you actually buy?

Kumho WinterCraft WP71

Pirelli Ice Zero 2

Winner: Pirelli Ice Zero 2 — better dry, efficiency and handling. Pick the Kumho WinterCraft WP71 if noise and treadwear matter most to you.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Pirelli Ice Zero 2 scores 72 vs 53 on dry.

Pick tire B You want lower fuel or energy use

Pirelli Ice Zero 2 scores 70 vs 52 on efficiency.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Pirelli Ice Zero 2 scores 53 vs 38 on handling.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Pirelli Ice Zero 2 scores 58 vs 46 on comfort.

Tire A · Kumho WinterCraft WP71
Check price on Amazon
Tire B · Pirelli Ice Zero 2
Check price on Amazon

TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.

WinterCraft WP71 or Ice Zero 2?

Which is better in the wet, WinterCraft WP71 or Ice Zero 2?

Pirelli Ice Zero 2, 73 vs 64 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, WinterCraft WP71 or Ice Zero 2?

Pirelli Ice Zero 2, 72 vs 53 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, WinterCraft WP71 or Ice Zero 2?

Neither, by our numbers: 68 vs 70 on the snow score, within 3 points.

Which is quieter, WinterCraft WP71 or Ice Zero 2?

Kumho WinterCraft WP71, 73 vs 66 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, WinterCraft WP71 or Ice Zero 2?

Pirelli Ice Zero 2, 58 vs 46 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, WinterCraft WP71 or Ice Zero 2?

Kumho WinterCraft WP71, 62 vs 56 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, WinterCraft WP71 or Ice Zero 2?

Pirelli Ice Zero 2, 70 vs 52 on our efficiency score.

How do we compare tires?

Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements), each result compared with every other tire in the same test and newer tests counting more. 40% comes from owner reviews found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates. Both use one scale: the average tested tire gets 70, the best 100. When a tire has only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from the other and the score stays closer to average; with no road test and fewer than five owner reviews it gets no score yet.

Handling is the exception: road tests measure it inside the dry and wet scores, so its own row comes from owner ratings only and starts as less important.

Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score. Full methodology